Vegetarian Chashu Pork

Transform your ramen nights with this irresistible Vegetarian Chashu Pork, a plant-based twist on the iconic Japanese dish. Crafted from tender seitan and simmered in a rich, umami-packed marinade of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and aromatic garlic and ginger, this recipe is a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors. The seitan is first seared to golden perfection, then slow-simmered until it absorbs every ounce of the flavorful broth, resulting in a succulent, glazed finish. Perfect as a ramen topping or served with steamed rice, this vegetarian chashu pork offers all the depth and complexity of the classic dish, minus the meat. It’s an ideal choice for vegetarians and anyone looking to elevate their plant-based cooking game!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:80 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 400 g Seitan
• 120 ml Soy sauce
• 60 ml Mirin
• 60 ml Sake
• 50 g Brown sugar
• 3 pieces Garlic cloves, crushed
• 20 g Ginger, thinly sliced
• 40 g Green onions, chopped
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 250 ml Water

Directions

Step 1

Start by cutting the seitan into large chunks, approximately 3 cm thick, to mimic the appearance of thick slices of pork belly.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, crushed garlic, sliced ginger, and chopped green onions. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved completely, forming a marinade.

Step 3

Place the seitan pieces into a shallow dish and pour the marinade over the top. Allow the seitan to marinate for at least 30 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even coating.

Step 4

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Gently remove seitan pieces from the marinade, reserving the marinade for later.

Step 5

Sear the seitan pieces in the hot oil until they are nicely browned on all sides, which should take about 5 minutes. Use tongs to turn the pieces carefully to avoid breaking them.

Step 6

Once the seitan is browned, add the reserved marinade to the pan, followed by 250 ml of water. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low.

Step 7

Cover the pan and let the seitan simmer in the sauce for 45 minutes. Check occasionally, turning the seitan pieces gently to ensure they absorb the flavors and don’t stick to the pan.

Step 8

After 45 minutes, if the sauce has not thickened, remove the lid and increase the heat slightly to allow the liquid to reduce to a glaze-like consistency, coating the seitan pieces.

Step 9

Once the sauce has thickened, remove the pan from the heat. Allow the seitan to cool slightly before slicing each piece into thin rounds.

Step 10

Serve your vegetarian chashu as a topping for ramen or alongside rice. Garnish with fresh green onions if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1050.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1275.5

Total Fat 29.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 17.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4765.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 121.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 4.4g	0%
Total Sugars 83.2g
Protein 114.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 359.3mg	0%
Iron 10.9mg	0%
Potassium 963.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 21.9%

Protein: 37.9%

Carbs: 40.2%